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Having worked with both children and adults from lower-income areas, Yazeed likes to help create an environment of safety and security by encouraging and listening to those experiencing the adverse psychological effects of financial instability. He has worked with children and adolescents in multiple capacities including volunteering with Walker Creek camps and in HeadStart classrooms. Yazeed prefers a dynamic approach to mental health, fitting clinical approaches to specific client needs. He received his Associate degree from Santa Rosa Junior College and is currently working towards his Bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley.

With over 7 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Shay started her journey as a direct support professional, supporting youth and adults with intellectual development disabilities. Currently, through growth in her career, Shay is the Coordinator of the Overnight Clinical Assistants- a leader of the overnight team operations. Years in the behavioral health field has awarded Shay with a plethora of knowledge in regards to individual service plans, specialized autism services, social skills, client engagement, positive redirection and more. Shay continues to attend trainings and thoroughly researches how to constantly support youth and adults with mental illness and IDD. Having attended extensive therapy herself as a youth, Shay is aware of client care and treatment teams goals in supporting clients from all backgrounds. A caregiver by nature, Shay believes that everyone at some point in life needs guidance and support no matter their race, sex, religion or disability. Outside of her profession in her personal time, Shay enjoys traveling, painting, music and reading.

Emily Armour is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Nationally Certified Counselor who graduated from Walden University with her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University. Prior to joining Paradigm, Emily worked with adolescents and their families in a variety of settings that included schools, Juvenile Hall, and outpatient facilities. She has extensive experience in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, high risk behaviors, parenting and co-parenting support, and addiction-related issues. She is a certified telemental health provider, certified clinical anxiety treatment provider, and possesses additional training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing (MI). Emily uses an integrative and eclectic approach to treatment based on the client’s needs and presenting issues. Her experience in the field has made her intimately familiar with the pressures, hardships, and life stressors that often can become debilitating for youth and their families. She works to fully understand the core issues that are causing maladaptive behaviors, how they impact the individual, and family and create more personal insight so that her clients are able to gain a sense of intrinsic motivation, develop a positive sense of self, feel better, and better interact with themselves and the world.

Avonlea Ware holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, where she also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. She joined Paradigm as a Clinical Assistant and worked with young clients for a handful of years before moving into her current position. She is a high energy team player who has a broad range of interpersonal and administrative skills and who strives to meet the needs of clients and families. Having traveled and lived throughout Europe, India, and the Middle East, Avonlea developed a focus on conflict resolution and communication skills, which she believes are assets to teens struggling to find their place in the world. When Avonlea is not working she enjoys spending time at the beach, gardening, and connecting more with the world around her.

Lindsay has a BA in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University, and a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She is a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) in Utah, and is in the process of getting her LPCC license in California. After growing up in the Los Angeles area, Lindsay relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2009, where she attended graduate school, and started her therapy career. She soon found her passion for helping facilities and clients with insurance authorizations and has worked with numerous adolescent and adult mental health and substance abuse facilities across the country. Her behind the scenes clinical work with insurance companies allows clients and their families to focus on receiving the lifesaving treatment they need without the added financial burdens and headaches of dealing with insurance. Lindsay is also a skilled clinician; she is EMDR trained, trauma focused, and specializes in substance dependence and addiction. After a decade in Salt Lake City, Lindsay moved back home to the Los Angeles area in 2021 to be closer to her family, and work with Paradigm.

Debora’s experience includes being a business owner for 9 years and working for 20 years in customer service. She actively facilitates client communication to and from Paradigm’s clinical team and enjoy establishing caring relationships with patients. Maintaining constructive communication is one of my top priorities. I am also proficient in computer applications and maintain a high commitment to accuracy and efficiency. Debora enjoys spending time with family and likes to stay active with her husband and daughters. She also enjoys bike rides and hiking.

Yoanca Reyes graduated from UCLA in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. Her interest in the HR field led her to seek an HR certificate through Cal State Dominguez Hills. During this time, she also volunteered for Latina Republic as a tutor to elementary school students who needed extra assistance. Her enthusiasm for a positive work environment and stimulating work culture match her role at Paradigm Treatment, where Yoanca assists the HR team in assuring that employees are in accordance with company guidelines and that employees’ questions and concerns are answered.

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Dr. Veronica J. Vargas is a distinguished Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of dedicated service in the Austin and Central Texas area. Her extensive career spans a diverse array of roles, from her tenure as a Victim Witness Counselor for the Austin Police Department to her impactful contributions as a Medical Social Worker, psychiatric assessor, and individual therapist.  Dr. Vargas has also held pivotal positions in hospitals, jails, residential treatment centers, and other critical care settings, showcasing her versatility and commitment to mental health care.

As a seasoned clinician and senior administrator, Dr. Vargas has worked across various populations and therapeutic modalities, providing essential support to clients and families navigating mental health crises. Her profound belief in delivering personalized care during pivotal moments defines her role at Paradigm, where she currently leads a dedicated team of clinicians, nurses, and support personnel who share her unwavering commitment to compassionate care.

Dr. Vargas earned her master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Doctorate in Social Work from Tulane University. Beyond her professional achievements, she finds joy in spending quality time with loved ones, savoring the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, and embarking on spontaneous adventures around the globe, all while cherishing Austin as her beloved home.

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Alicia joins Paradigm Treatment with an extensive background in mental health. She began her career in Reno, Nevada, as a licensed social worker in a Level 1 trauma hospital. She then moved to Austin, Texas, where she worked in marketing for a large mental health hospital. Alicia is passionate about providing assistance to those in need of mental health services and is ready to make a difference!

To care for her own mental health, Alicia enjoys pool days with friends, boating on the lake, and just about any outdoor activity.

Jeff was born on the bayous of Southwest Louisiana. He is a father of two, a daughter, 34, and a son, 26, and grandfather to two little boys, Judah, 5 and Roman, 2. Jeff has worked in this industry for 32 years and has had the privilege to make a difference in hundreds of lives, as a director in 3 different residential facilities, helping many children overcome the trauma and pain in their lives due to abuse and neglect. He aims to create a safe, nurturing environment for the children served by Paradigm.

Jeff believes that client-centered therapy focuses on establishing a warm, safe environment and providing genuine empathy, while building a relationship so that the client feels safe and has a sense of trust. Jeff believes we can reach and help each child overcome any obstacle in their lives by getting to the root of the issues and forming new beginnings with their family. Jeff enjoys coaching select baseball, developing players and creating a team mentality while also spending time with family and enjoying those precious moments with his grandkids.

Shae grew up in the Pacific Northwest. While most of her career was spent in the financial industry, Shae’s experience working in two local schools ignited a passion for helping youth and young adults. As a volunteer fire fighter since 2013, Shae is required to respond immediately, and safely, adding to her relevant experience. Shae believes all these past life experiences make Innercept the perfect fit. At Paradigm, Shae loves to work as a team and values making genuine connections. She is sure to remain calm and show kindness during a crisis. Outside of work, Shae enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, paddle boarding and other outdoor activities.

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Lynn Wierdsma is a licensed clinical psychologist at paradigm Idaho specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric conditions and complex trauma. She has 20 years experience as a therapist and has offered compassionate care through family, couples, individual, and group therapy in a wide variety of residential treatment settings.  Lynn is dedicated to improving mental health and quality of life through both diagnostic testing and psychotherapy. Outside of work Lynn enjoys spending time in nature, rehabilitating animals in need, and hanging out with her human and non-human family.

Linda is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Idaho. She completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at CSU, Fresno, where she served as a research assistant and presented at the American Psychological Association in 2018. She earned her Master of Social Work from CSU, Fullerton, concentrating in community mental health. During her graduate studies, she developed clinical and policy expertise working with individuals living with disabilities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, and individuals from Latino and Chicano cultural backgrounds.

Her foundational clinical experiences began in graduate school in Southern California, where she provided direct therapy to diverse populations, including elementary school-aged children, adults experiencing co-occurring disorders in acute stabilization, older adults in outpatient care, and adults struggling with homelessness.

In her professional career as a therapist in Idaho, Linda has primarily worked with adults of all ages who struggle with co-occurring disorders in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings, as well as with adults in acute stabilization programs. As a result, she is highly skilled in clinical interventions for those living with severe mental illness and for individuals with significant trauma histories, including experiences related to incarceration, gang involvement, and other institutional settings.

Linda’s approach is grounded in a balanced, trauma-informed lens that combines compassion, directness, and collaboration. She identifies as an integrative systems-psychodynamic therapist who is passionate about helping individuals recognize that they are capable of becoming and growing into the person they truly want to be.

Ambar Meyer serves as the Intake and Discharge Coordinator at Paradigm Treatment and has been a consistent source of support for families since 2020, combining years of medical experience with a deeply personal understanding of what it means to advocate for those you love. For many families, Ambar is the first point of connection, meeting them with compassion, honesty, and calm as she helps navigate the admissions process during some of life’s most overwhelming moments. Outside of work, Ambar is a wife, mother of four, and grandmother whose journey raising a non-verbal child with autism profoundly informs the empathy and dedication she brings to her role every day.

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Tina Wittenbrock serves as the Education Coordinator at Paradigm Treatment in Idaho. She brings over 15 years of experience supporting adolescents in mental health settings and 8 years in public education. Tina is dedicated to building resilience, fostering self-confidence, and promoting authenticity in young people. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, biking, and kayaking with her family.